Hi to all network members of the Greenbox. This is our blog!
Here, we'll keep you posted about what's on in the region, all the latest enviro-news, our own upcoming events, training days, network events and more. We'll still email you, but now we also have the option of emailing with a link to the blog.
So keep telling us about your events and news, and we'll keep the network posted. You can subscribe to a feed to this blog by clicking the link at the bottom of the page

Thursday, June 26, 2008

An introductory 1-day course with Rob Doyle at The Organic Centre onSaturday 23rd August 2008Rob Doyle, who has installed a micro-hydro system at his house will describe and explain suitable locations and the basic components of a small stand alone hydro system with a site walk in the afternoon.During the day Rob will discuss the options.Why Hydro: Most efficient renewable energy system - Will generate 24 hours/day - Cheapest (usually) per installed watt - Its fun.Why not: Most site specific - You have to get cold and wet - Its still expensive He will also show what you need: Water - A hill - The water running down the hill - More hill and more water the better - A system to convert the kinetic energy in the water to electrical energy.For more information or bookings call 071-985438e-mail: info@theorganiccentre.iewebsite: www.theorganiccentre.ie

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Bear Essentials Presents:"100 years of the Growling Teddy Bear"On the first day of Ireland's Heritage Week Sunday August 24th at 3pm Presentation by John Melvin from Belfast, a representative of the world-renowned Margarete Steiff Company!Be in with a chance to win a Steiff bear! Experience to make a teddy bear! Enjoy freshly baked German /Irish cakesYou don't have to be a teddy bear enthusiast to enjoy the afternoon that has something to offer for all ages.No Entrance Fee Charges for workshops & services apply.Bear Essentials offers you a 10% discount on all items in the Showroom that day.No need to enrol for single attendance, but if you plan to take part with a group, please let us know in advance.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Come for an Eclectic Solstice Weekend at The Gyreum Ecolodge,Castlebaldwin, Co. Sligo.

We open our doors for the Solstice from Wednesday 18th till Monday 23rd but if you can at least try and reach Gyreum as early as possible on Friday evening 20th so as to be there and ready for the Solstice Dawn.

OUTLINE SCHEDULEGather on the Friday Night, 20th June - Ready for the Solstice Dawn next dayBig healthy slap up breakfast at 8am on Saturday 21stDo as you wish for the day – or go along our nearby historical trail or have a splash in Lough Arrow if the weather is kind.

A 3 course vegetarian dinner is available for only €29 at 8pm which includes free Irish coffee & biscuits. Bring your own wine. Best to reserve in advance to guarantee a seat at the great banqueting table in the Hall of the People.

As dinner ends have Irish coffee as sun sets in the North West behind Queen Maeve’s Cairn atop Knocknarae, followed by St. John’s Eve bonfire.

Breakfast is from 9.30am till 11am on the SundayGo & explore Heapstown Cairn, Labby Rock up on Moytura – all walkable to.

For those who stay on for Sunday night – they can cater their own dinner and should go over to Carrowkeel on the dusk of Sunday. The key cairns of Carrowkeel are aligned to the North West setting sun. Hope to see you.

Official LaunchA celebration of the New Ard Nahoo following last years eco build.21st JuneSurf Yoga RetreatA weekend of surfing and yoga hosted by guest teacher Paul Byrne.27th – 29th JuneFamily Eco RetreatThe carbon neutral family holiday, with activities for children including yoga theatre, organic pizza making in our outdoor earthen oven and a family film night.4th – 11th AugustYoga & Walking RetreatRelax and revive with two days of yoga practice and exploration of the Leitrim hills. You’ll leave feeling brand new.6th – 8th August

Thursday, June 12, 2008

The Development Media Workshop are running Environmental Photography Courses on the following dates: Saturday July 26thThursday August 14thSaturday October 18thThe courses start at 9:15am and finish at 5pm. Locally sourced (organic where possible) lunch is provided, as are cameras and computers. The cost of all courses are £135 (sterling). If you wish to make a booking you can make payment through our website (www.developmentmediaworkshop.org/environment5.html). Please use the paypal button marked for Photography.

We are also holding an Environmental Animation course on Saturday September 27th, for twelve participants. The cost of this course is £40 for an adult, and £25 for under 18 year olds.Our courses are run with small numbers to give the best possible support to participants. Full payment is required at booking. If cancellation is made more than 3 weeks before the course date a 50% refund will be given, and a further 50% refund IF we are able to fill the vacant place. Cancellations made less than 3 weeks before the course date will only receive a refund of 100% if the vacant place if filled.

Leitrim Landscapes, in conjunction with Tawnylust Lodge, Manorhamilton, offers guided walks on nature, archaeology, wildlife and foraging in the North Leitrim area, using local guides. On Sat July 19th & Sun July 20th there will be walks to Tullyskeherny archaeology site and Cranny Wood, Lurganboy respectively. These walks afford participants a practical opportunity to read and interpret the landscape around us, forage for food and thus increase our understanding and appreciation of both.Walks both days will be 3-4 hours duration and not too strenuous. Leitrim Landscapes operates to ecotourism principles including Leave no Trace guidelines; groups are limited to a maximum of 15 participants. Day trips €25/day, €40/ 2days. Weekend Packages incl self-catering accommodation €150/pp sharing based on 4.For further information on day trips or weekend packages or to book please contact: Nuala McNulty at nulamcnulty@eircom.net or +353 (0) 87 9172143Details of walksSat July 19th - 11am, meet at car park opposite Catholic Church Manorhamilon at the Fire Station.Starting from the star fort located in Manorhamilton town the walk will lead out toward the Leitrim way via the Enniskillen road. We will reach the top of Tullyskeherney about ¾ of an hour later and then enter the plateau with its spectacular views and interesting archaeological sites ranging from the late Neolithic to the early Medieval period. The emphasis of this walk is going to be the geology, archaeology and wildlife. A practical approach in reading and interpreting the landscape around us thus increasing our appreciation of it.The walk should take about 3 to 4 hours but won’t be strenuous, as a lot of this time has been allocated to looking at and for flora, fauna and things of interest.Weather permitting we can then descend via the turf road toward Larkfield or loop around and return via the Leitrim way again.

Sunday July 20th - 11am, meet at car park opposite the Catholic Church Manorhamilton at the Fire StationLeaving Manorhamilton, the walk will take us to Cranny Wood in Lurganboy and across Shanvaus hill affording stunning views of Benbo and Glencar Valley. The difference in geological formations is easily visible in this area. We will pass through Lurganboy village with its historical church and battle site into Milltown Wood along the river Bonet where we will look at a range of plants and wildlife. The duration of this walk is approximately 3 hours.Walkers should bring strong walking boots/shoes, waterproof clothes, binoculars and lots of enthusiasm!

Friday, June 6, 2008

50 Of Ireland’s Best Ecoescapes - New Guidebook launch June 4th 2008Click here for the Ecoescape Ireland website

24 listed are current members of the Greenbox Network

The Northwest of Ireland clearly stands out and has achieved recognition in Ireland’s first ecotravel guide book. The all island publication is the first recognition that a growing consumer market is choosing a holiday with a difference.The following properties in the Northwest are included in the book, The Greenbox, the Kingfisher Cycle Trail, the Leitrim Sculpture Centre, the Organic Centre and many more services and organisations are also listed in the comprehensive directory.Greenbox welcome this publication of many of its members which is a reward for much investment in training and product development over the past number of years.Mary Mulvey, CEO, The Greenbox commenting on the launch “There is now recognition of the fact that the products and services are in demand by tourists. We now need all the agencies in tourism, agriculture and rural development to capitalise on these achievements and deliver on what it is in strategic plans if we are serious about developing ecotourism on the island of Ireland.The majority of funding that the Greenbox has received to date has been from cross border sources, very little core funding support for training, capital development and marketing has been received to date.”

AT THE LEITRIM DESIGN HOUSE, THE DOCK, CARRICK-ON-SHANNONThe Leitrim Design House will host a day-long workshop in Japanese woodblock printmaking on June 21st, 11am to 5pm at the Dock, in Carrick-on-Shannon. This workshop is designed to incorporate the basics of the art form of Japanese Woodblock printmakingDebra Bowden is an artist / printmaker based in Thomastown, County Kilkenny.

Her work is a combination of Japanese woodblock prints and paintings on carved and scorched plywood blocks.In 2006 she was awarded a six week Artist-in-Residency in Japanese Woodblock Printmaking on Awaji Island, Japan. She was one of seven international artists to be selected and the first ever from Ireland where she was taught skills by Japanese master printmakers, skills that are still being used today in Kyoto and Tokyo.A large focus of Debra’s training in Japan was in the dissemination of the skills she has acquired. Prior to the course she taught Japanese woodblock printmaking in Grennan Mill Craft School, Thomastown; Kozo Studio and Gallery, Thomastown and the National Print Museum, Dublin.

Traditional tools and materials are used with a variety of Japanese papers and included in the price in this unique workshop.

The fee for this one day workshop is € 90.00Maximum 8 people per workshop.Early booking essential

Providing high quality dedicated training for the ecotourism sector in Ireland.

We are a new, dynamic initiative designed by Greenbox to provide training and networking support to enterprises within the eco-tourism sector and any organisation interested in developing their business in a more environmentally friendly way. Funded by the national Skillnets fund under the Department of Enterprise, our training aims to increase the knowledge and skills of those working in the eco-tourism sector and covers a broad range of areas in the following fields: